Influence of carbon source on the anatase and brookite mixed phase of the C-doped TiO2 nanoparticles and their photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Choosing resorcinol, phloroglucinol, ethylene glycol and glycerol as carbon sources, respectively, C-doped TiO2 nanoparticles are prepared via hydrothermal method. Here glucose is first used to determine the optimal C-doping amount and reaction environment. The experimental results reveal that adding small amount of carbon in TiO2 can change the phase structure of the TiO2, the self-characteristic of carbon source influences the ratio of anatase to brookite in the mixed phase structures, and the carbon source with no benzene ring can lead to a high content of brookite phase. The mixed crystal phases show lower band gap energy and less photogenerated electronic-hole recombination. Furthermore, a high content of hydroxyls in carbon source and a high ratio of brookite phase in the mixed crystal phases are beneficial to the photocatalytic performance.